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MESSENGERS OF LOVE" 

POEMS 



Composed by 

PEARL E. MICK 

KENTON, OHIO 



PRICE 

Paper Binding 75 Cents 

Leather Binding $2.00 



THE ROBY BROS. PRINTING COMPANY 
KENTON, OHIO 






Copyright 1912 
By PEARL E. MICK 



^ ^^>o 

C!.A328761 



DEDICATION. 

This book of Poems is affectionately 
dedicated to Miss Lucille Rose, whom I 
consider the most beautiful girl I have 
known and whom I **revere" with all my 
heart and soul, in memory of whom, as 
the fairest of the fair and the sweetest of 
the sweet, I herewith pay my highest 
tribute of praise in the publication of this 
little volume of poems. 



GREETING TO P. E. MICK. 

My poet friend, 
May Erato wend 

To you her fruitful way 
May she by you stand 
And guide your hand 

And never from you stray. 

May she give a strain 
That shall sound again 

The hearts of men to cheer. 
In the years to come, 
When life's course is run, 
And other songs are sear, . 

May she fortune bring 
In the songs you sing, 
And success of the better hue. 
May she grant quite all 
That's hers to call 
And the wish of a friend to you. 

B. A. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



SECTION 1. 




Prose Works. 


PAGE 


Soliloquy. 

Are Eyes Immortal. 

Essay On Love. 


19 
19 
20 


SECTION 11. 




Poems to Lucille. 




Our Eyes Have not Met. 

Fairest of the Fairest. 

There is a Little Girl in W. Va. 


27 
27 
30* 


The Joy of Expectation. 

Only a Picture. - - " 

Fondest of all Recollections. 


31 
32 
33 


Dreaming - - " ' 
Twilights Fancy Visions. 
The Fate of Common Man 


34 
35 
37 


Hope - - - ■ 

Vanished Dreams 

Tho We Have Never Met. 


38 
39 
40 


Fade Not Away. 

My Waking Thoughts. 

My Dream Queen. 


41 
42 
42 



PAGE 

TVill Long Be Remembered. - 43 

The Proposal. - _ _ 44 

My Rose, My Hearts Repose. - .45 

Only a Rose. - - - .45 

No Lass so Fair. - - _ _ 45 

No Hope. - - _ 47 

Joy of My Life. . - . 47 

I Care Not Where My Feet May Tread. 48 

Vision Fair. - _ . 49 

I Long to Wed Thee. - - - 50 

Could I But Know. - - - 51 

Immortal Eyes. - - - 51 

ToW . ... 52 

I Never Thought My Life So Incomplete. 53 

I Never Knew There Lived a Lass So Fair. 55 

Could We Have Kissed. - - - 56 

To My Valentine. - - - 57 

All Is Emptiness. - - _ _ 59 

Roses of Red. - - - - 60 

Forgotten. - - - - 61 

Remembered. - - - 63 



SECTION III. 
Other Poems. 

The Spirit That Inspires. - - 65 

My Neighbors Bull Dog. - - 69 

Halleys Comet. . - _ 71 



PAGE 

Sonnet to Nellie. - - 72 

The Colorado Mts. - - - 73 

The Auto That Ran Over Otto. - 74 

If Life Were Only a Dream. - - 75 

In the Golden Sunlight. - - 75 

Smiles. - - - - 77 

Days of Youth. - - - - 78 

Sonnet to Vfera. - - - 79 

The Smile That Won. - - 79 

Vanities. - - . - 80 

My Dog Snyder. - - 82 

To Love. - _ - . 83 

The Bliss Divine. - - 84 

Sonnet to a Grand Rapids Girl. - - 85 

Sonnet to a Grand Rapids Girl. - - 86 

Sonnet to a Grand Rapids Girl. - - 86 

Tis a Fair October Evening. - 87 

Kenton, My Kenton. - - - 89 



PREFACE 

The author, in publishing this book, does 
not expect that the critics will not find 
flaws in his compositions but hopes that 
just criticism will be given and brought to 
his attention. His compositions are not 
all meritorious but he feels that just cause 
for publication may be found: — first in the 
author' s conception of the beauty of true 
poetry and second in the author's portrayal 
of the finer senses of human nature. 

The author, having only a High School 
education, has not, nor does he pretend 
to have the ability to compare with the 
standard poets of literature. 

However inquiries and persistent urgings 
of friends have decided the author to pub- 
lish this book of poems and he hopes they 
will in a measure meet with public approval. 

P. E. MICK. 



INTRODUCTION. 

The author of this little volume of poems 
was born on November 3, 1886, in the 
city of Kenton, Hardin County, Ohio. 
There he has resided the greater part of 
his life with such environments as to be 
important factors in the creations of his 
"messengers of Love" or perhaps better 
termed "Heart Throbs." Although his 
first verse was not written till after a few 
months so-journ in Denver, Colorado and 
although the exhilarating atmosphere of the 
West seems to have been necessary to in- 
spire him at first, yet the fact that the ' 'Muse' ' 
has not yet deserted him but inspires him on 
to greater achievements is proof positive that 
present environments are largely responsible 
for his' poetic creations. 

Born of poor and humble parents, taught 
from early youth the worthiness of hard 
manual labor, he has never shunned manual 



labor but has ever shown a readiness to 
serve in that capacity. 

Because the author has not yet written 
poetry of more momentous character, or 
on subjects of the day it is not to be thought 
that he is incapable of such, for in all arts 
the truth is eminent that genius is due to 
the depths of feeling in the heart toward 
the particular art; and in poetry the ability 
to write is not due to inspiration, but to the 
innermost depths of feeling in the heart. 

It will readily be seen then that these 
poems are but the feelings or the pulse 
beats of the heart and that time is the es- 
sential factor in the acheivement of poetry 
more diversified and momentous. 

It is to be hoped that the public will ac- 
cept these poems as "Heart Throbs" or 
* 'Messengers of Love" and that as such 
that they may convey infinite pleasure and 
delight, and that a perusal of their contents 
will cause all who read to acknowledge the 
superiority of the charms of Lucille. 

C. E. S. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 19 



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SECTION I. I 



\ Prose Works I 



SOLILOQUY. 

We live, but why we live we know not; 
but this we know, that life is ours but for 
awhile, to live, to do, to smile, once in 
awhile. We know not whence life came or 
whither it goeth, but this we know, that we 
do live and while we live we will but live, 
content if but our lot be not cast down be- 
neath earth's ruins to go; content if but 
our life by some sweet life be led, led by 
some soul with eyes that draw us on, on, 
onward, on, but ever on into the infinite 
depths of love. Love of the divinest kind, so 
sweet that but one taste is Heaven forever 
below, so sweet that all we know is that 
we love, that but to live is but to love and 
but to love to live. Such love is ours. De- 
lirium divine! Most priceless joy! To 
part with thee is but to hell to go. 



ARE EYES IMMORTAL? 

Eyes are but the sentinels, the spirit of the 
inner soul. (Such is the belief of the auth- 
or.) In them we read and see the inner life 



20 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



of each person, and in them we read one's 
character. 

To worship beautiful eyes is but human, 
natural and God-like. All aesthetic beings 
worship them. They can not help it; more 
especially is this so of man of the aesthetic 
nature. Those love-compelling sentinels, 
those alluring, charming eyes, those dreamy 
eyes virtually control his being. His every 
thought 9,nd action are centered on those 
eyes. It is not love merely, but the soul wor- 
ship of the beautiful by those of the aes- 
thetic nature, according to the laws of God 
and nature. He loves to gaze into those 
eyes, if he is of the aesthetic mind. To gaze 
into those eyes is bliss, to him, beyond com- 
pare. In them he sees all that's good and 
true and ibeautiful. In them lies that price- 
less beauty that can never die. For I be- 
lieve they are immortal charms and can 
never die. Their light may fade and their 
beauty seemingly pass away, but their real 
beauty never, never dies. It is that light, 
that beauty that we see when we gaze into 
those beautiful eyes, the beauty that never 
dies. Fortunate is he or she who possesses 
that beauty, the befiuty that never dies or 
fades away. 



ESSAY ON LOVE. 



Love is a profound sensation. It is a state 
of ecstatic bliss and joy that both man and 
woman shall at some time experience. To 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 21 



love is to feel and know that the presence 
of one certain being is essential to our own 
happiness, prosperity and well being. To 
love is to feel that we would sacrifice our 
own life to win the love of the one being 
we love and adore. Therein lies the su- 
preme test of love, the unselfishness of true 
love. Trpe love is willing to sacrifice it- 
self for the sake of love. If one is willing 
to die for love's sake and not regret it, 
then truly it is love. To love is to feel that 
without that certain being's companionship 
that life is in vain, holds nothing but dreary 
and desolate days, that earth's joys are 
nothing and that all is emptiness without 
that love. 

T.ove makes us adore and worship the 
object of our love with a sincerity, zeaTous- 
ness and passionate earnestness that can 
not be excelled. 

True love considers itself worthy of any 
sacrifice and is willing to sacrifice all, to 
lay all on the altar of love. Conventionality 
it sets aside as a pagan god. Nothing is 
too great to sacrifice, if it is true love, even 
love itself. 

Love in itself is worthy of all sacrifice, 
but a man or woman should not forget what 
true love is. They should not misconstrue 
passion or lust for love. Love is greater 
than either of these. It is and should be 
willing to sacrifice itself for the happiness 
of the object of its love, but one should re- 
member that true love can never demand 
or accept such sacrifices, without giving 
Just returns for such sacrifice, even the at 



22 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



the very same moment in like circumstances 
it would make such sacrifice itself. 

True love must be respected and is re- 
spected, else it degenerates. Love is a no- 
ble, lofty, high state of being, into which 
state, the true form of love, not all men en- 
ter. It is because that so many men cease 
to worship the object of their love that so 
few marriages are happy. 

Tt is said that marriage sobers a man. If 
so, that is, if marriage makes a man to 
adore his wife less, then it is because he 
fails or refuses to become familiar with the 
likes and dislikes of his mate, and a gulf 
is gradually formed between them of mis- 
understanding and misconstrued motives. 
With a clear understanding of each other, 
in true love, there will be a desire on the 
part of both to please each other best, to 
make each thought and act the means to 
convey happiness to the other. Each lives 
to make the other happy. Each wishes al- 
ways to please the other. 

Love hallows affection and makes the 
heart more mellow. It gives a softer tone 
to the voice, a more tender caress unto 
the touch, a more pleasing grace unto our 
charms, and adds to the ambrosial nectar 
of love that most delicate and refined of 
symmetries, the sweet accord of soul to soul 
and heart to heart. Love finds man in a 
state of bliss and leaves him in the same 
blissful state, more profound and wonderful 
each day of its existence. 

True love can not die, yet it may wither 
for awhile. It can not pass away, except 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 23 



as life itself passes away and even then it 
surely must re-exist somewhere in some 
manner. 

True love will sacrifice itself rather than 
accept or see the sacrifice of the object of 
its love. True love will not lower the scale 
of existence of another life for the sake of 
its own happiness. It can accept no such 
sacrifice. Love is too lofty a feeling to al- 
low the object of its love to degenerate. 
Rather love elevates its object or affinity 
unto 9, loftier plane than itself and is itself 
lifted up thereby. 

Love is but the worship of the soul, the 
yearning of the heart most high for love 
that gives and receives alike in bounteous 
measure. Love receives or gives as it is 
asked or given. Love makes us more will- 
ing to love and more worthy of love. 





DREAMING 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 27 



J SECTION II. \ 

S Poems to Lucille \ 



Our eyes have not met 
Our lips not yet, 

But still I think of thee. 
Our hands have not clasped 
Nor have our hearts grasped 

The thoughts we have for thee and me. 



FAIREST OF THE FAIREST. 

Fairest of the fairest. 
Sweetest of the sweet, 

Rarest of the rarest gems 
That earth and Heaven greet. 

Not a fading flower, 
Not a bird that soars. 

Not a thing that creeps along, 
Or anything that roars. 

Just a blithesome lassie, 

Winsome as can be, 
Smiling ever sweetest smiles 

For all of earth and thee. 



28 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



Sweetest of the sweetest, 

So bewitching sweet 
Is the smile she gives to thee 

If you by chance she meets. 

Purest of the purest, 

Innocent is she. 
Like the lily, pure and white. 

So in heart is she. 

Eyes that have a sparkle. 
Laugh and dance and glow, 

Mpke me feel that Heaven is near 
As I my journey go. 

Eyes of luster light. 

Roguish as a spy's, 
Make you feel the joy that's real 

When hearts are otherwise. 

Eyes not treacherous. 

Eyes not of deceit, 
Eyes that seem to beam on thee 

From Heaven's bower sweet. 

Eyes so full of love. 

Of beauty gleaned of love. 

Shed their rays of light as bright 
As the lights of Heaven above. 

Eyes bewitchingly sweet, 
So alluring sweet 

That often do I wish that I 
This charming lass might greet. 

Byes of sympathy, 

Elyes so kind and true, 
Seem to beam on me and thee 

Lke Heaven's morning dew. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 29 



Eyes so full of joy, 

Eyes so full of mirth. 
Make me think that I am near 

The Paradise of earth. 

A heart worth more than gold, 

Or all that earth doth hold, 
A heart that's good, holds all you would 

That any heart should hold. 

As priceless as a pearl. 

Her heart so pure and sweet. 
Is ever fond of kind friends true 

Whom with sweet smiles she'll greet. 

A heart of sunshine full, 

A heart of kindness true 
That giveth smiles to all around 

And sweetest smiles to you. 

A heart that loveth truth 

And is ohedient 
To Mother Dear, even though she fear 

Her friend think it not expedient. 

A heart of tenderness, 

As gentle as a dove, 
A heart that wishes e'er to please 

In gentle acts of love. 

A heart that loveth fun, 

A heart that will he true, 
A he^rt -that seems with kindness sweet 

Both earth and Heaven to woo. 

A heart of sympathy, 

A heart that's kind and true, 
A heart that doth appreciate 

All that you say or do. 



30 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



As the ivy clings to the old oak tree 
So do my thoughts e'er cling to thee, 
And as thy smiles to me are pleasures 
So my thoughts of thee are treasures. 

As the golden sun shines on our land, 
So do thy smiles e'er smile on me. 
And as the ivy clings to the tree 
So will my thoughts e'er cling to thee. 



THERE IS A LITTLE GIRL IN W. VA. 

There is a little girl in West Virginia 
Whose name is so sweet, I could dance at 

her feet. 
Whose eyes are so bright you can see them 

at night, 
Whose face is so fair I would hardly dare 
To kiss her, would T care. 

Her smile is so bright, you would surely 

delight 
To have her about you. 
Her pretty curls are so cute, no one could 

dispute; 
And her shapely hands are so pretty and 

soft 
That you would like oft to caress them. 

This pretty little maiden is sunshine In dis- 
guise, 

Whom no one could despise, were they ever 
so wise; 

She is the soul of purity, the essence of 
sympathy. 

The flower of love divine, about whom my 
heart would entwine. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 31 



THE JOY OF EXPECTATION. 

O, the joy of expectation 

^Vhen you think there's a vacation 

Not so very far away, but yet to come. 
O. the joy of expectation 
^'^Tien you think that earth's creation 

Will assist you in your frolic and your fun. 

O, the joy of expectation 
In this land of recreation 

^Vhen you think there's something great 
in store for you, 
When you think your dearest hopes, 
Of success, ambition's scope 

Are about to be realities for you. 

O, the joy of expectation 
As you think in exultation 

Of the bright eyed lass you are about to 
meet 
As you think in adoration 
Of your heart's sweet consolation, 

Dearest joys to you will ever, ever fleet. 

The joy of expectation 

Makes my heart so light and free, 
That when I think of wh9,t may come 

My heart is full of glee, 
My heart is full of ecst3,sy 

As I in visions dream 
Of her who seems the dearest girl 

On whom the sun doth beam. 



32 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



ONLY A PICTURE. 

Only a picture of a bright-eyed lass, 
Yet it never doth fail to inspire 

My thoughts and my actions to their loftiest 
heights 
As I gaze on my heart's desire. 

Only 9, picture of a maid so sweet 
That her eyes I love to meet, 
For they laugh and glow and sparkle so 
That I'd like to be her beau. 

Only a picture of a maid so sweet. 

With eyes that surely woo 
The eyes of those with whom she meets 

That it brings them joys a few. 

Only a picture of a maid so fair, 
With a smile bewitchingly sweet, 

A smile so lovely enamorous and kind 
That my heart fain from me would fleet. 

Only a picture of a lassie fair, 

Yet with exquisite delight, 
Her smile and her eyes will you more than 
surprise 

In their sweetness undisguised. 

Only a picture of a lassie fair 

Riding in a pony cart. 
While at her feet sits Admiral Togo, 

Her shepherd dog, faithful and smart. 

Only a picture of a girl, you say. 
But her heart is kind and true. 

For she's sympathetic and energetic 
And appreciates all you do. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 33 



Only a picture so alluringly sweet 

That often do I dream 
Of her who seems the dearest girl 

On whom the sun doth beam. 

Only a picture that brings me dreams, 

Dreams of the fairest hue, 
For would not life be fair indeed 

If my heart could win as I woo. 

Only a picture that gives me a vision 

Of a maid alluringly sweet. 
With a heart so good and loving kind 

That this maid I'd love to meet. 

Only a picture that brings me a dream, 
A dream of this beautiful maid. 

For whom I'd sacrifice my all 
To dwell with her in Cupid's shade. 



FONDEST OF ALL RECOLLECTIONS. 

Fondest of all recollections, 

Sweetest of all my thoughts. 
Dearest of all illusions 

A-re my thoughts of you as God woughts. 

What would I give but to see thee, 

What would I do if I did, 
I would, give thee caresses the fondest 

And kiss you and say, "'Oh, you kid!" 

Naught but the fondest affection, 
Naught but the kindest of love. 

Naught but the gentlest caresses 

Would I give to my Dear Angel Dove. 



34 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



Oft would I gaze in your eyes, 
Full of the fondest of love, 

And tell you how much I love you 
And how dear is my Angel Dove. 



DREAMING. 



These few lines are for Lucille, 
Wliom each day I long to see, 

For I love you, O I love you. 
And my heart it beats for thee. 

Ah, to see thee were a pleasure 

Such as I have never had. 
And to know thee were a treasure 

That would ever make me glad. 

Often sit I fondly dreaming 

Of the time when we shall meet. 

Caring not if it be springtime, 
Just so I your smile may greet. 

Often in my fancies roaming 
To the brightest spot on earth. 

Thinking of the lass who lives there. 
She's the paradise of earth. 

And in fancy's vision floating 
Oft your face so sweet and fair 

Makes my heart thrill with a rapture 
For this maid so sweet and rare. 

Thoughts of you are but the semblance 
Of your heart and kindness true 

Breathed around about me ever 
Drawing me nearer to you. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 35 



Often do I sit and ponder 

As your words come nigh to me, 

Breathing sympathy and fondness 
For the lad who cares for thee. 

Naught but smiles seem to surround me 

As I sit and think of thee, 
While your eyes of sparkling beauty 

Beam their sweetest depths on me. 

There's a joy of endless fullness 
Comes to me when e'er I sit 

In my fancies fondly dreaming 
Of the lass who made a hit. 

For I know there is no other 

Lass that can compare with you, 

And if all your friends forsake you 
ITnto you I will be true. 

For your eyes like beacons guide me 
O'er the rugged path of life, 

Unto you I'll soon be fleeing, 
Asking you to end the strife. 



TWILIGHT'S FANCY VISIONS. 

In twilight's fancy visions 

I see a lassie fair 
Who smiles on me so benignly 

That' I hold her most rare. 

In twilight's fancy visions 

This lassie I behold 
The witchery of whose eyes it seems 

Would win man's heart from gold. 



36 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



In twilight's fancy visions 

Oft do I see her face 
That seems to me more beautiful 

Than anything Heaven doth grace. 

In twilight's fancy visions 

I gaze and gaze and gaze 
In reveries of her who seems 

My eyes to e'er amaze. 

In twilight's f§ncy vision 

Her sweet face floats to me 
In all her loveliness adorned 

As sweet as sweet can be. 

In twilight's fancy visions 

A vision of my dreams, 
The softness of whose face it seems 

Would make her queen of queens. 

In twilight's deepening gloom 
She seems so pure and sweet 

That all of earth and Heaven can't beat 
The charming lass I greet. 

In twilight's deepening gloom 

Her loveliness bespeaks 
The sweetness of the inner-soul 

That she adorns so meek. 

Her vision says to me "Be good," 

Her vision says "Be true," 
Her vision says "Be worthy of 

The girl who is true blue." 

Her vision says "'Tis not worth while 

To think of evil thoughts. 
But let your mind on good things dwell. 

Be useful as God woughts." 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 37 



THE FATE OF COMMON MAN. 

Another year will soon have passed away. 
Another day will soon its course have run, 

Another pair of eyes I've gazed upon, 

And still I've missed the joy I should have 
won. 

Another ray of hope has dawned within 
My heart, but to be dashed away as tho 
some sin 
Had crept within my heart to eat therein 
And feast itself upon the vitals of life's 
vim. 

Although I hoped again and hope deferred, 
Although it seems in vain to hope again. 

Yet when I see those eyes I prize so well 
I do forget that I am but a man. 

For thus it seems that man of common form 
Cannot and must not e'er his heart adorn 
With those sweet charms and winsome 
ways that grace 
The fairer sex, his own heart to purloin. 

He cannot choose and win just whom he 
would, 
He cannot woo the lass he fain would 
win, 
But he must by the common law abide. 
Seek Jtiim a wife of his own class akin. 

He cannot hope to live a life of joy 
With those immortal charms of glorious 
eyes. 

For, unless he possess their equal to, 
He cannot hope to win, and hope must die. 



38 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



HOPE. 

Sometimes mid scenes of former days, 
Sometimes mid scenes of today 

We meet a lassie, Oh, so fair 
With eyes that guide our way. 

Sometimes when hearts are sad and forlorn 
Weary and oppressed in despair, 

There comes a little gleam of love 
From a heart yet kind but fair. 

And often there comes to a heart oppressed 
By the cares that infest the day, 

The hope that some day our dreams may 
come true 
For which we have striven each day. 

Inspired by the love of some kind heart 

We struggle to ^-ttain 
Life's greatest blessings and its joys 

That life may not be vain. 

Inspired by the hope that we may share 
With some kind heart we love 

All of earth's pleasures, blessings and joys 
We strive to win our love. 

For this alone we do but live 

That we her love may share 
With her to live and happy be, 

To make her happy for e'er. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 39 



VANISHED DREAMS. 

Vanished long since the dreams of youth. 

The golden days of yore, 
When as I sat within my room 

My wandering fancies soared. 

Departed long, the hopes of youth, 

The joys of former days 
When I was young and life was bright 

As I life's standard raised. 

I dreamed of times so near at hand, 

Of other days to come. 
When I, success upon my brow, 

Life's blessings should have won. 



When I, in love's own sweetest ways, 

Should win my lassie fair. 
And thrice around her weave love's maze 

With her alone to share. 



But now, alas! those dreams of yore 

No more my heart avail 
My lassie fair with eyes so rare 

Left me my love to wail. 

No more, no more those dreams of yore 
My saddened heart compose, 

No more, no more my fancies soar 
In love's own sweet repose. 

But like unto the fading flower 

Drooping and falling away, 
I leave no joys or sorrows here 

'Cept as these lines may sway. 



40 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



Forgotten not the days of youth, 

Forgotten not her eyes, 
Forgotten not their loveliness 

Or the love that in them lies. 

Forgotten not my folly past, 

My hope within me dies, 
Yet naught in Heaven could make me wish 

To gaze in other eyes. 



THO WE HAVE NEVER MET. 

Though we have never met as yet, 

I count it not in vain 
To think of you, to dream of you 

As oft my heart would fain. 

For that day of joy may sometime dawn 

When we come face to face, 
And all my fears and all my joys 

Shall to your heart give place. 

Then all my joys are as mere toys, 
They can't compare with you, 

For they pass by and are forgotten 
While you're my heart's cuckoo. 

Reflections of you bring me joy 

That so uplifts my mind 
And makes me true and good to you 

And also make me kind. 

They elevate my heart in tone 
And sweetest of all thoughts, 

They make me worthy of the girl 
To whom all else Is naught. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE ' 41 



So therefore do you think 'tis vain 

For me to think of you, 
To dream of you in visions sweet 

Since it doth make me true. 

Nay, better far that it be so, 
Even though we never meet, 

For virtue must in some hearts dwell 
And beauty some hearts greet. 

Else how would all God's goodness thrive 

i^nd our great nation live 
If some hearts were not lifted up 

From out earth's sordid sieve. 



FADE NOT AWAY, O VISION FAIR. 

Fade not away, O vision fair; 

Fade not before my eyes, 
For in that vision sweet and fair 

My heart forever lies. 

I can not always look upon 

The lass I fain would win; 
But thou, I charge thee, be thou near, 

And feast my heart within. 

I pray thee be thou near to me, 

Be ever fresh and clear; 
And may my thoughts forever be 

Of thee I cherish dear. 

Wlien years roll by and time hath wrought 

What fate alone can do, 
I pray thee, be thou near to me 

And help me to be true. 



42 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



MY WAKING THOUGHTS. 

My waking thoughts of thee are dear 

And precious unto me; 
My heart allots to you the sphere 

Most blest, most worthy thee. 

I can not know, I can not tell 

You all that sphere shall be, 
But this I know that love doth know 

All that that sphere shall be. 

I only know that all things good. 
The best that earth doth hold. 

Are not half good enough for thee 
Nor worth thy weight in gold. 

Choose where you will, do what you may, 

Love alone knows thy fate, 
And in that love perfect and true 

Happiness lies in wait. 

So, then. Dear Heart, cheer up, fear not, 

All happiness is thine. 
And on thy heart so pure and true 

True love will ever shine. 



MY DREAM QUEEN. 



(Song) 
In a land not far aw^y 
Lives a lassie fair. 
She has eyes blue as the skies, 
A form so debonair; 
She wears two long black pretty curls 
And smiles at you alway. 
It makes my heart to thrill whene'er 
She smiles that same sweet way. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 43 



This lassie is the queen of all, 

None with her can compare; 

Her grace and art and winsome ways 

Surpass her beauty rare. 

And to these charms 

She adds one more, 

A heart so pure and true 

That all of earth and heaven combined 

Oan't equal her to woo. 

Chorus. 

My dream queen, my queen queen,* 

You are the queen of all; 

If 5^ou only would care 

Then I sure would dare, 

I at your feet would fall. 

In summer time, in winter time, 

At all times I dream of you. 

My life is so sweet 

My joy is complete. 

Whenever I dream of you. 



'TWILL LONG BE REMEMBERED. 

'Twill long be remembered, the day that 

we met; 
I ne'er shall regret it nor ever forget. 
The day and the hour, the time and the place 
To me bring reflections of your smiling face. 

As long as I live and wherever I be 
That sa'me dear, sweet smile will forever 
haunt me; 

♦Note — Queen queen is a poetic expres- 
sion for the phrase queen of queens; orig- 
inal with the author. 



44 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



No matter what happens or what be my fate 
That same dear, sweet smile my heart will 
elate. 

In visions of rapture my heart is enthralled 
As I think of the lass, my heart's mate she's 

called, 
And with fondest affections and tenderest 

regards 
I'll think of the lass most adored by all 

bards. 



THE PROPOSAL. 



A lad, a lass and a rose so fair 

Met in the arbor cave, 
The lad was bold, his love he told, 

The maid was quite suave. 

The lad he bore his grief away, 
The rose stood weeping by. 

The maid was sorry for the lad 
And would not let him cry. 

She says: "I do not care for you. 
My heart from love is free; 

I love no one, I love not thee, 
It can not ever be." 

The rose has withered in despair, 
The maid is happy free, 

I would not it were otherwise 
For the maid must happy be. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 45 



Yet the lad he dares to hope again 

To win his lassie fair, 
He cannot live and happy be 

Unless her love he share. 



MY ROSE, MY HEART'S REPOSE. 

My rose, my rose, my heart's repose, 

The dearest girl on earth 
T can not think that I can win 

For I am not thy worth. 

I can not hope, 'tis vain to hope 

To win my lassie fair. 
Yet still I hope, with love I cope 

To win my rose so fair. 

T can not tell just why it is 

I dare to hope to win. 
Yet this I know I do love you, 

T love thy heart within. 

I do not wish to grieve my rose, 

I wish her happy e'er. 
But then I would more happy be 

Her love so sweet to share. 

My rose, my rose, I love my rose, 

I love no one but thee, 
I can not hope, I can only love 

And loving, love but thee. 



46 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



ONLY A ROSE. 

A rose ,a rose, only a rose, 

A rose of the fairest hue, 
It breathes its perfume may or June 

And blooms for me and you. 

A rose, a rose, only a rose. 

But it blooms both night and day. 

Where'er I stray, where'er I may 
A rose lies nigh my way. 

I can not go to sleep at night, 

I can ne'er lie in repose. 
Except I see a rose nearby 

To lull me in its throes. 

A rose, a rose, only a rose, 

Is ?l11 I wish to see. 
For when I see a rose near-by 

I think of only thee. 



NO LASS SO FAIR. 



So sweetly fair, serenely fair 

This maid it seems to me, 
That could she live forever here 

All Heaven would jealous be. 

She wears a smile so sweet, benign 

And eyes so wondrous blue 
That all of earth and Heaven combined 

Can't equal her to woo. 

There lives no lass so fair as she. 

No eyes so wondrous blue, 
No lass can smile so sweet as she 

Nor act as kind and true. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 47 



NO HOPE. 

My love, I have no hope of ever winning 
thee, 
Or that thou wilt my love return, 
But still I love you and think it still worth 
while 
To linger longer in the love you spurn. 

T have no fear that if thy soul return 
To sympathize with me my heart to burn, 

But that some day when it is best for us 
Thou wilt my love return; for me to yearn. 

I have no fear if fate's decree is no 

To face the future with my heart aglow. 

To live my life as best I may and go 
Where fate decrees that I shall go or no. 

Yet will I strive if fate decrees me no 
To do my best and live unto the test, 

That I may win not laurels for my brow 
But tune my heart to perfect love attest. 



JOY OF MY LIFE. 



Joy of my life and my own heart's desire 
Inspire my life or send to me a wire; 

Tell me you love me as my heart requires, 
Then I will love you as a worthy sire. 

Thou art the greatest gem the earth contains 
And the most precious treasure of my 
heart, 
Which, if I once possessed as all my own, 
Naught in this world could ever make us 
part. 



48 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



For I would love you with my heart and soul 
All of my life my love would you console; 
All th9,t I am or that I am to be 
Would thru thy virtues ever more perfect be. 

All my affections and my heart's great love 
Rest in thy heart there to live or die, 

And tho they die yet there will be some joy 
In having loved thee in the days gone by. 



.1 CARE NOT WHERE MY FEET MAY. 
TREAD. 

I care not where my feet may tread 

Or what my fate may be, 
Just so I may thy love enthrall 

And live my life with thee. 

I do not think it worth my while 

Commercial marts to win, 
I only wish to live in love. 

Thy love to bask within. 

My one desire, my all in life, 

Within thy love to bask, 
I will forego all other joys 

And take myself to task, 

I care not what my fate may be 

If fate will give me thee, 
For loving thee, it still shall be 

Love to eternity. 

And evermore my fate will be 

The fate I find in thee, 
Oh, who can wish for better fate 

Than to know thou lovest me. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 49 



Then with thy love I'll be content 

My life for thee to live, 
I'll make thy heart my love to feel. 

My life to thee I give. 



VISION FAIR. 



Fresh and clear and ever dear, 

Vision, oh, so fair, 
Thou art dearer every year, 

Every day more fair. 

Thou to me art sweeter far 
Than all things else can be. 

Thou, to me, art lovelier 
Than a rose can be. 

Thou, thyself, a rose so fair, 

Still a rose may be, 
Yet none with thee can compare 

None thy heart may see. 

None thy heart may gaze upon, 
None thy love may know, 

Yet within thy heart so fair 
Love lies white as snow. 

Far within the inner-depths 

Love unconscious lies, 
Love unfathomed, love unknown, 

Love that never dies. 

Love may sometime soon awake. 

Love may soon arise, 
Love may find itself unknown 

Unto other eyes. 



50 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



Love may feel not for itself, 

Love" for others dies, 
Vet love will give us noble hearts 

And bear us to the skies. 

So let us labor on each day, 
Let us watch and pray. 

That we may not love in vain, 
But may win our way. 



I LONG TO WED THEE. 

I am trying now to tell you 
All the joy thou gavest me 

Those few minutes that I saw you, 
When my hea,rt I gave to thee. 

When in rapture I beheld thee 
And enthralled by beauty fair. 

All my heart rejoiced to see thee 
As the fairest of the fair. 

All my heart for thee is pining. 
All my love to thee has fled. 

Since the day I first beheld thee 
And I'm longing thee to wed. 

Yes, my love, I long to wed thee, 
Thou alone can'st make m© true 

And if you will J)ut accept me, 
Unto you I'll be true blue. 

I will love thee, ever love thee 
And if you will love but me, 

Then, my love, we will be happy, 
Just as happy as can be. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 51 



COULD I BUT KNOW. 

Could I but know that it were so 
That you would care for me, 

I'd live for thee or die for thee, 
Such is my love for thee. 

Could I but know that it were so 

That you loved only me, 
My darling fair, with eyes so rare, 

I'd prove my love for thee. 

Could T but know that it were so 
That life held naught but dreams, 

Then all my life my zeal were rife 
To win my queen of queens. 

Could I but know that it were so 
That you would say me nay, 

Then every day I'd seek a way 
Till you the yes would say. 



MMORTAL EYES. 



Ah, could I see those charming eyes, 

Immortal lights so fair, 
I would not have another wish 

Than but their love to share. 

Ah, could I but abide within 
The shadow of those eyes. 

That gleam so fair, so sparkling rare 
All else could not compare. 

I would not have another wish 
Than but to gaze within 



52 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



Those sparkling depths, those beauteous 
depths 
That knoweth naught of sin. 

Ah, just to gaze within those eyes. 

The sweetness of the soul. 
That gleam of love from Heaven above, 

And make my being whole. 

I'd be content to gaze within 
Those sparkling depths of love, 

I would not wish for other love 
On earth or Heaven above. 

I'd gaze and gaze and gaze and gaze 

Into those charming eyes, 
More full of bliss than the sweetest kiss, 

More fairer than the skies. 

I'd thinlc that Heaven were near to me. 

That earth were paradise, 
As long as I might gaze within 

Those fair immortal eyes. 

Earth's joys were full, earth's pleasures 
mine. 

Whene'er on me they'd shine, 
My love for thee my only plea, 

My heart will e'er be thine. 



TO W* 

W— , O, thou W— , 

Immortal thy name shall be. 
For from thy home has come a child 

As sweet as sweet can be. 

*Note: W. is used for the name of the 
town where Lucille lives. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 53 



In rearing her in thy abode, 

Surrounded by the hills. 
Thou didst thy best and God the rest 

Her heart perfection fills. 



Within the walls of thy abode 
She learnt thy name to love. 

Nature and art did truth impart 
And angels gave her love. 



Sacred is now the shrine wherein 
This lass has lived each day, 

And when all things have passed away 
Thy name shall not decay. 

But all thy fame shall glorious be 

And wafted to the skies 
Shall soar into eternity 

And evermore arise. 



I NEVER THOUGHT MY LIFE SO 
INCOMPLETE. 

I never thought my life so incomplete 

As since I first met you. 
Nor can I yet quite understand 

How much I do love you. 



I only know I love you all the time, 
I love your eyes that sweetly on me shine, 

I love your smile that so allures my heart, 
And makes my heart rejoice in thy regime. 



54 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



I love you for your graceful, winsome ways, 
I love you for your thoughts and for your 
nays, 
I love you for your heart's true worth and 
more, 
I love you cause you're worth ten thous- 
and nays. 



I love you just because I think that you 
Are quite by far the girl I most adore, 

I love you 'cause your face, your voice, your 
eyes 
My heart and soul so sweetly do implore. 



I love you and I know I never will 
Care for a girl as I now care for you. 

And, oh, Lucille, how I do implore, 
Consider me and that I care for you. 



And, oh, Lucille, more I do implore. 

Take all the time, years if need be before 

You answer no, th?it I may hear you sweet- 
ly say to me, 
I love you, Pearl, your heart I do adore. 



For time is naught to me, since I love you, 
For I reckon not with time and moments 
yet, 
But patiently await, if chance there be, to 
hear, 
I love you, Pearl, let's love and the past 
forget. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 55 

I NEVER KNEW THERE LIVED A LASS 
SO FAIR. 

I never knew there lived a lass 

So sweet, so kind, so fair, 
I never knew there bloomed a flower 

To which none could compare. 

I never knew the earth contained 

A lass so debonair, 
I never knew a heart so kind 

Or quite without compare. 

I never knew a joy so full 

As when I thee beheld, 
I never knew such bliss divine. 

All other thoughts expelled. 

I never knew just what it was 

To be in love 'tis true, 
But now I know that to be in love 

Is to be in love with you. 

I only know that in loving you 

My heart will nobler be 
And that even tho I fail to win 

I'll ever love but thee. 

I may never know the fullest depths 

Of joy o'erflowing me, 
But I never want to know such joy 

Except in loving thee. 

I cannot tell what my fate may be. 

But help me, Lord, I pray, 
That I may e'er be true to her 

Till death shall come my way. 



56 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



COULD WE HAVE KISSED. 

Oh, that I might have kissed those lips of 
thine, 

Just to have tasted of that bliss divine: 
Ah, then my soul would soar in ecstasy, 

And never more, again, my heart repine. 



Oh, that I might have sipped the bliss divine 
That nestles in those sweet red lips of 
thine. 

That once I might have tasted Heaven's joy 
And then no more again my heart repine. 



Could I have felt that in those lips of thine, 
That in their luscious fruit the kiss divine 

There dwelt for me all happiness and joy. 
Then would my heart no more, again, 
repine. 



Could we have kissed and could I but have 

known 

That you loved me and loved but only me. 

Then would that kiss more sacred be to me 

Than all things else Heaven holds most 

dear in thee. 



Could we have kissed and could we both 
have felt 
That we both loved each other, then I 
think 
That all of earth and heaven could not com- 
pare 
To that one moment of eternal bliss. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 57 



TO MY VALENTINE. 

To my valentine this day 
I am sending all I may; 
I am sending love and joy 
To receive and to employ. 

I am sending heart's delight, 
I am sending blessings bright, 
That you may more fully know 
All the joy to you I owe. 

I am sending freedom's song 
To the lass I can not wrong; 
May you ever happy be, 
May you e'er from care be free. 

But sweet freedom's song can be 
No sweeter than this song of mine, 

Which each day I send to thee, 
May it evermore be thine. 

"Oh, my love, my love, my plea, 
All my life I give to thee; 
All I 9,m or am to be 
Is for thee, my love, for thee. 

Oh, my love, I live for thee, 
All my life is yours to be; 
You my heart may still refuse, 
Then I %11 be a recluse. 

I can love but only thee. 
This I vow shall always be; 
Should I love in vain, at then 
I will love you in refrain. 



58 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



Oh. my love, I pray of thee 
That thou wilt he kind to me; 
Take my heart and keep it thine 
And for thee my love will shine. 



Should fate be unkind to thee 

Or an unkind act bestow, 
I will heal thy wounds with love, 

Sweetest love that earth can know. 



I will make thy heart to feel 
That tho all friends thee forget, 

To have known my love for thee 
Is to leave thee no regret. 



I will make thy heart to feel 
All my love in thee arise 

And the balmy breath of love 
Oft will bear us to the skies. 



I will make thy heart my own, 
Keep it tenderly and true, 

All thy wounds shall healed be 
In the love that yearns for you. 

And in love we'll ever be, 
As the vine clings to the tree, 

And no bliss that can compare 
To the bliss that we may share. 



For in love there is much joy, 
And no tongue that can employ 

All the skill that needs must be 
Just to tell our love and joy. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 59 



ALL IS EMPTINESS 

All is emptiness before me 

All around is vanity, 
Everywhere I go there's nothing 

But a cold humanity. 



What the hurry is I know not, 
Why this vain desire of earth, 

For it seems men to enfatuate 

And makes women seek but mirth. 

On men struggle unrelenting. 

Seeking ever to ensnare 
Riches and their glittering splendor. 

Elegance and leisure fair. 

Lives are spent in such endeavor 
Nobly won and nobly lost. 

For results of such endeavor 
Are but heathen modes embossed. 

Why this empty blazing glitter. 
Which we see most every day; 

That which we do most admire 
Is a heart in sunshine's sway. 

Queens there be most beautiful, 
Gowned unto perfection's art. 

Thus adorned we love to see them, 
But we wish they had more heart 

A heart like to that of a fairy, 
Kind and gracious unto all. 

Wishing ever but to please thee 
While life lasts and shadows fall. 



60 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



All is emptiness before me, 

'Cept when thou art nigh to me, 

Either in my dreams or slumbers 
Or when I'm really with thea 

But for thee the cold, cold glitter 
Would ensnare my heart and brain, 

Yet for you I will endeavor 
Greatest heights to e'er attain. 

Not to heights of splendor grand, 
Not to pompous scenes of earth. 

But to realms of sweetest music 
Made for thee and for thy worth. 

Realms of music, realms of kindness. 
Full of joy and happiness; 

For they live there who endeavor 
But to please each other best. 

It is not worth while to struggle, 
.Just mere riches to obtain. 

But for you my best endeavor 
Is life's glories to attain. 



ROSES OF RED. 



Roses of red and roses of white, 
Roses of pink and forget-me-nots bright, 
All of them lovely, fragrant and fair. 
But roses of red are my heart's delight. 

Lillies and butter-cups and violets blue. 
Sweetest of flowers that man ever knew, 
Yet roses of red are most dear unto me, 
O, roses of red breathing love all for thee. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 61 



Roses of red, oh, roses of red, 
Go tell my lassie I long her to wed. 
Tell her I love her and that I'll be true 
And as long as I live I'll ever love you. 

Then when in spring time when roses are 

red 
And we still are happy as lovers are wed. 
Just think of my promise that I shall he true 
And never a moment our life shall you rue. 

But with ecstasy sweetest and eyes beaming 

bright 
You'll kiss me and say, "Dear, I love you 

tonight, 
T love you, I love you, my heart and my soul 
Enthralled and enchanted by love is made 

whole." 

In blessed surrender complete and divine 
Abandoned in love thy heart will be mine 
Till you in love's rapture shall cry out in joy 
T love you, I love you, oh, love me, my boy. 

And love everlasting shall crown our delight 
And kisses entrancing shall be our respite 
Till love's dreamy fancies and love's golden 

dreams, 
Shall seem what they are and be what they 

seem. 



FORGOTTEN. 



Oh, woe is me and sorrow mine. 

My fate is to repine, 

For thus it seems the queen of queens 

Has ceased for me to shine. 



62 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



The lass I love, all things above 

Has ceased to care for me, 
Forgotten is my love by her, 

Indifferent and free. 

Forgotten by the lass I love, 

Forgotten is my heart. 
Forgotten to repine and learn 

The pain love doth impart. 

Forgotten ne'er to know again 

The joy so full, sublime 
That in itself is the reward 

Of love's immortal chime. 

Oh, worlds that vie, oh hearts that sigh. 

Oh, hearken to my plea, 
Is fate so cruel, is life a duel 

To be or not to be? 

Is unrequited love to be 

The lot of mortal man? 
Is he to woo and to pursue 

His love and see it wane? 

Oh love that is forgotten by 

The lass who does not care, 
I shall forever more repine 

'Cept thou my love repair. 

Go to the lass and tell her now 

How oft' my heart repines 
And that my heart will e'er repine 

If she my love declines. 

Oh, woe is me and sorrow mine 

To live is to repine, 
For life Is love and love is life 

And to love is to repine. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 63 



If fate's decree is love for me 
And to love is to repine, 

Then let that love immortal be 
And love will he divine. 

And if no love divine I gain, 
And if no love be mine, 

Then I will be content on earth 
To love and to repine. 



REMEMBERED. 



Remembered by the lass I love, 
Remembered by my queen. 

Remembered now once more to know 
The joys of love's sweet dream. 

Remembered and forgotten not, 

Remembered by my love. 
Remembered, oh, sweet ecstasy, 

Remembered by my Dove. 

Remembered and 'tis joy to know 

That tho I am forgot, 
I may yet be remembered 

By the lass I've loved and sought. 

That tho I am forgotten 

And unhappy for a time. 
Some day I hope to win her 

And fevel in love sublime. 

And tho I am forgotten 

I shall still as often find 
That I am still remembered 

By the lass for whom I've pined. 



64 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



Remembered, yea, remembered. 
Oft' remembered by my queen, 

For to love is to remember, 
To remember the unseen. 

Then remember, oh, remember 

To remember only me, 
And if you will me remember 

I'll remember only thee. 

Till at last we both remember 
That we each remembered are 

By each other and as often 

Cherish dreams tho distant far. 




MESSENGERS OF LOVE 65 



M'«l«il('<H'<l''«<l'l|MuMt|><,(<|,)>||l<,|'<uM,«M|MuMMM,«>«i('WI'«<M,|M.«'«,<'«>>S*'S<M.I<l 



SECTION III. 



I Other Poems I 

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THE SPIRIT THAT INSPIRES. 

Sometimes when hearts are lonely 
Sometimes when hearts are sad, 

Then other hearts are happy 
And oft-times we are glad. 

Not because some hearts are lonely 
Sad and forlorn, we're glad, 

But just because we can't be 
Anything else but glad. 

Something that's irresistive 

Seems to creep over our hearts; 

Banishing all cares and sorrows 
Unto earth's dusty marts. 

We cannot understand it, 

We do not know 'tis here 
Until its spirit leaves us 

Kindred hearts in good cheer. 

Conscious not of its presence, 
Buoyed up with hope and good cheer; 

Life unto us seems more pleasant 
Driven away is our fear. 



66 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



We can but only remember 

All of our happiness past; 
Forgetful of its dark moments 

Which oft enshrouded life's mast. 

All is but sunshine around us 
Filled is our life full of light 

We but see life in its beauty, 
Earnestly we love its might. 

We do not care for riches, 

Oh, how we loathe their spell; 

They but destroy life intrinsic 
Fastidious is their fell. 

Palaces we do not care for. 
Eminent positions despise; 

We do not care for such splendor 
But for a heart's paradise. 

Sometimes it seems we're so lonely 
Sometimes we're sad and depressed. 

Sometimes our hearts are so burdened 
Sorrow rides high on our crest. 

Strangely familiar with sorrow 
Sad and cast down in mien. 

Some hearts it seems are given 
Oftenest unto extreme. 

Tho we are often in sorrow 

Saddest of all men born; 
Yet there's an angel of goodness 

Oft-times our spirits adorn. 

Seems but to lift us from sadness 

Unto a joy profound 
Swaying our hearts in oblivion 

Of everything sordid around. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 67 



Inspiring our hearts to gladness 

Lifted to thoughts of joy 
Our minds attune to music 

So full in deep pathoy.* 

Our minds revel in gladness 

Our hearts, in sooth, are pleased, 

And meters hum within us 

Like the humming of the bees. 

Their melodies impel us 

To thoughts divinely fair 
To words of boundless beauty 

Scented of perfume rare. 

A message sweet they leave us 

A vision, oh, so fair, 
Of life's worthy ambitions 

Which we should win and share. 

We love, we love their message 

But sweeter far than all, 
We appreciate more fully 

The beauties on our wall. 

We think all earth is fairer, 

The grass a prettier green, 
And nature doth herself adorn 

With wealth from beauty gleaned. 

We feel a love more fuller 

For beauty, man and art, 
Its beauty sweet within us 

A sweeter smile imparts 

Oh, how we love our visions, 

Our minds in them revel, 
Creations of our fancies 

No voice can e'er dispel. 

♦Note: "pathoy" used for word "pathos. 



68 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



Some men it seems are gifted 
With thoughts that so inspire 

Their minds to sweetest music, 
Our own true heart's desire. 

But other men are lifted 
From thoughts of sombre gloom 

As tho some fairy's wand 
Had given them a boon. 

They of themselves could never 

Such heights alone attain, 
And but for some kind fairy 

Their life would be in vain. 

Charmed by some act or vision, 
Charmed by a soft, sweet voice. 

Their life becomes more pleasant 
They realize their choice. 

Their task is but to welcome 
Each day as it doth come 

Pursue life's arduous duties 
Content when they are done. 

Pursue them with a vigor 
With all their wealth of love 

For all that's true and beautiful 
On earth or Heaven above. 

Their's is a world more lovely 

Fairest of earth's domain. 
Dwelt in only by beings 

Who have found its exalted plane. 

They could do naught but gather 
From out earth's sordid ores. 

Gems most prized, on earth despised. 
But blessed on other shores. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 69 



So then our hearts are mellowed, 
By sorrows strange yet dear, 

And memories of the past to us 
Are blessings and good cheer. 



' MY NEIGHBOR'S BULL DOG. 

My neighbor has a bull dog 
Quite young, but my, O my! 

He jumps around both up and down 
And nabs at every fly. 

It sure is quite amazing 

To see this dog perform, 
To see him romp and play each day 

And wag his tail forlorn. 

Just hit him with a pillow, 
How quick he will turn 'round 

And nab it with a vicious grip 
As though it were a hound. 

Just try to take it from him 
And see him rip and rare 

And jump around both up and down, 
Oft' all feet in the air. 

Just throw another pillow 

And see him grab it too 
Or kindly kick him with your foot 

And he will grab your shoe. 



70 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



If that perchance is not enough 
To satisfy your whim, 

A dozen pillows at him aimed 
Perforce will add some vim. 



Ah! see him now, he's filmost mad 
To know what all this means 

And if you don't explain quite soon 
He'll nab you on your jeans. 

He's looking 'round both up and down 
To find the cause just now, 

And soon he will make some one ill 
Or feel his bow-wow-wow. 



But no, he hears his master's voice 

And hearing doth, obey. 
For he loves that old familiar sound 

W>ich he hears most every day. 

Not the sound of the hickory switch 
Or strap to be laid on his back, 

But the good old kind sonorous tones 
Of the man who loves to chat. 



The deep sonorous tones he hears 

Of melody quite full, 
Perchance do awe inspire in him 

And make him quite obdure. 



For he's very quick to skit away 
And he wags his tail so free 

That it seems he loves his master so 
For he wags It so in glee. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 71 



WHEN THE COMET LOST ITS TAIL. 

Of all the wonders ever seen upon this glo- 
rious earth 

There never yet appeared a sight that so 
provoked to mirth, 

For it was such a marvelous sight to all the 
people 'round, 

That they forgot themselves in mirth, and 
made the earth resound. 



The sight that so provoked to mirth and 

made the earth resound 
Was only Halley's comet, sailing 'tween the 

planets 'round. 
But Halley's comet is a sight as everybody 

knows 
That ne'er will twice our eyes amaze as on 

its flight it goes. 



So the people all were watching for the 

comet so renowned, 
And when at last it came in sight, they 

saw that it was round. 
They also saw it had a tail that stretched 

thru space profound. 
Shedding forth its rays of light as the 

comet onward bounds. 



But that which so amazed us as we watched 

this comet bound 
Was its very funny actions as it sailed the 

heavens 'round, 
For all at once it lost Its tall, we know not 

where it went. 
But it lost its tail, we know, as its onward 

course was spent. 



72 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



It lost its tail so suddenly, but stranger still 

to me, 
The comet got another tail as bright as 

bright could be, 
S-o when you tell the tale of how the comet 

lost its tail 
Be sure to say the comet has a brand new 

tail. 



SONNET TO NELLIE.* 

Nellie, how I wish that I 
Your presence oft might share 

For your grace and art and winsome ways 
Have my heart in a snare, 

1 can't forget you if I would, 
Nor can my eyes refrain 

FYom gazing on your fair sweet face 
In ecstacies in vain. 

When-e'er by chance I see your face 

At home or on the street, 
I just can't make my eyes behave, 

For you I love to greet. 

I often sit out on my porch 

And look across at you, 
And in my fancies oft revel 

O, how I do love you. 

I love to feast my eyes upon 

Your graceful airy ways, 
Which seem to weave a spell round me, 

My heart to e'er amaze 

*Note: Written to Nellie Eames. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 73 



If only for a moment I 
Could in your presence be. 

That moment were so full of joy 
My heart would be in glee. 

You are to me the vista, 
The vision of my dreams, 

Your loveliness to me it seems 
Would make you queen of queens. 

I ^^ould that I were able 

To tell you what I think, 
To tell you how I love you, 

How oft of you I think. 

I'd paint before you pictures. 
Dreams of the fairest hue. 

And make them but realities 
For you whose heart's so true. 



THE COLORADO MOUNTAINS. 

I sit on my porch in twilight, 
Or maybe the heat of the day, 

And look out upon the mountains 
Sublime in their beauty and lay. 

The grand mountains of Colorado 

Far in the distance I see. 
Towering aloft in their greatness, 

As beautiful ^s can be. 

Sublime in their beauty and greatness, 
Their gulches and canyons do yawn, 

More like to the devils' own carvings 
Than to nature's own handiwork drawn. 



74 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



So marvelous the works of nature, 
Such wonderful freaks she performs, 

That it seems as if nature's a fakir. 
And a charm that adorns. 

Their peaks and their crags far ahove us, 
Adorned with winter's white robe. 

Stand out in their beauty and splendor 
As queens of earth's aerial abode. 

Magnificent wonders of nature 
Their gullies and ravines proclaim 

That earth is a treasure of beauty 
As well as a treasure for gain. 

So let not earth's treasures provoke you. 
If you can't assay them for gain, 

But think of their beauty and splendor 
Whose richness each one can obtain. 



THE AUTO.* 

The auto which ran over Otto 
Aught to Otto have gone 'round. 

And Otto aught to have seen the auto 
Before the auto on Otto did bound. 



But Otto did not see the auto 

Before the auto on Otto did bound. 

So Otto could not stop the auto 
Before the auto on Otto did bound. 

♦Note: There are other verses to this 
poem, but they were not suitable for publi- 
cation. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 75 



IF LIFE WERE ONLY A DREAM. 

If life were only a dream, dear, 

And you were my sweet queen, dear, 

With plenty of money, we'd have lots of fun 

Riding and playing in the sun 

And you couldn't say a thing to me 

That wouldn't make me smile on thee. 



If life were only a dream, dear, 

And you were my sweet queen, dear. 

Then sweet were the hours that I spent with 

thee 
Underneath the old oak tree. 
And my joy were complete, were a smile 

from thee 
To break the silence, 'tween thee and me. 



If life were only a dream, dear. 

And you were my sweet queen, dear, 

I should wish that my dream would make 

you queen, 
The queen of my life and heart unseen 
I should wish that you were not a dream 
But only my sweetheart queen 
And were it so I'm sure you'd know 
That life for me were all for thee. 



IN THE GOLDEN SUNLIGHT. 

In the golden sunlight 

All of nature basks, 
And it seems that all earth beams 

On you at your task. 



76 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



Tn the golden sunlight 

All earth's flowers bloom 
And their perfumed fragrance tunes 

All our hearts from gloom. 

In the golden sunlight 

Birds their carols sing, 
And their notes are warbled forth 

On enchanted wings. 

In the golden sunlight 

Earth's creation towers, 
And to all of us who watch 

Beauty so endowers. 

In the golden sunlight 
All earth's radiance sheds 

Forth the beauty and the glory 
Of its queen co-eds. 

In the golden sunlight 
Earth her message sends, 

And in accents sweet and low 
Thus her message wends. 

Life is not a vision dream. 

Life is not a play, 
Life is a reality. 

Life is not decay. 

Life is all it seems to be, 

Or you will to be, 
Life is what it seems to thee 

If in it you be. 

Life for you holds everything 

If you struggle hard. 
Life for you has but a sting 

If you but retard. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



77 



Life is not for you to spend 

As you will or may, 
Life is yours to make amend 

For some other day. 

Life is not your own to lend 

In gay frivolities; 
Life is but a means to send 

To all integrities. 

Life is ever worth your while 

If you do your best, 
I ife for you wreathed in a smile 

Has for you a crest. 

Life has glory for you all 
If your hearts prove true, 

For though often do you fall 
Glories sure ensue. 

Let us struggle not in vain, 

Let us struggle well. 
Let us struggle with disdain 

For discord and hell. 



SMILES. 

We only live but for awhile. 
And while we live we will but smile, 
Content to live that little while 
And smile and smile and smile. 

You may not walk ten thousand mile 
Yet you may find it worth your while 
To always, always give a smile 
Till there are miles and miles and miles of 
smiles. 



78 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



We only live but for awhile, 
The least we can do is to smile, 
So then if you will only smile 
We all will smile and smile and smile and 
smile. 



DAYS OF YOUTH. 



The days of youth are swiftly passing by us, 

Our childhood joys are now alas no more. 
The sweetest hours of youth are left behind 

us, 
And time flows on forever, ever more. 

The golden sun doth still yet shine upon us, 

The silvery moon still sheds its radiant 

light, 

The morning and the night are ever with us 

And life seems sweet tho oft its shadows 

blight. 

The sun of youth hath set in radiant splen- 
dor. 
Even as the golden sun sets in the west, 
And as the morning dawns some clear fair 
day in springtime, 
So dawns life's future crowned in bright- 
est crest. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 79 



TO VERA. 

Since first I met you 

I can't forget you; 

I think of only you. 

Could I forget you 

Or e'er regret you 

My heart would ne'er be true. 

The night I met you, 

Could I forget you, 

Would not remembered be, 

All joy would fret me. 

Evil beset me, 

Till I remembered thee. 

Your eyes have met mine, 

I would they might shine 

Ever, always for me; 

I could not repine. 

If in them I'd find 

That you could think of me. 

Your eyes I do love, 
Your eyes I will love. 
Your eyes of glorious hue. 
So beaming and mirthful. 
So sparkling, undearthful, 
Oh, yes I dream of you. 



,THE SMILE THAT WON. 

The smile that won was a winning smile 
And no smile like to that one, 

For the smile that won from the heart had 
come 
And its worth full many a sum. 



80 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



The smile that won was a cheery smile, 

And its radiant cheer was shed 
Over all the earth giving joy and mirth 

To all its queen co-eds. 

The smile that won was not spent in vain, 

For in every heart it met 
It drove away all fears and doubts, 

And some hearts ceased to fret. 

Its radiant cheer was shed abroad 

In every heart each day, 
Its mellowed sweetness cast abroad 

All troubled hearts allayed. 

Now the smile that won is a winning smih 
If your own heart you won't cheat, 

For if gladly given and freely given 
It's the smile that can't be beat. 



VANITIES. 



I know not why that I should live or die, 
For I am tired of this dull life we live, 

This life of vain endeavors freely spent 
Seems but to me too sordid e'er to live. 

Why should man live contented if but he 
Can win some honor and his name adorn. 

For are not all earth's glories and renowns 
But the viain semblance which make 
hearts forlorn. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 81 



For are not these vain glories and re- 
nowns 
But empty titles and distant glittering 
stars 
Which do seem to give us happiness, 
But in fact our happiness they mar. 

Are they not but vanities so vain 

As to make our lives more wretched e'er 
we gain 

That which we on earth most prize today, 
Riches with their glittering splendor vain. 

Is not man a fool to sacrifice 
On this pagan altar in disguise 

All that's true and good, our heart's true life. 
Which we should forever, ever prize. 

Is not he unworthy of his name 
If he give his life to seek but gain 

For himself and his own pleasures full, 
When he knows the cause unworthy, vain. 

Is he not but sacrificing life 
For that oft despised King of hearts 

That he may his selfish desires fill 
But to revel in all earth's pleasures till 
death parts. 

Ah, fair sir, thy heart doth know, 'tis true, 
That to live as some men live today 

Is to miss the better part of life 
And ne'er feel the power of love to sway. 

For without such love as makes us live 
All our life the nohlest that we may, 

We but miss earth's tranquilest of joys 
Living for each other every day. 



82 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



Living the sweet life of tranquil joy, 
Which alone can make us happy, free, 

That of living for some one we cherish dear, 
But to make her happy as can be. 

And to gladden other hearts we see 
By a cheery greeting and to be 

But the giver of a gift most graciously 
Given unto others, is love so free. 



"MY DOG SNYDER."* 

There's a dog lives in our town, 

Snyder is his name, 
Coach dog is his non-de-plume, 

Envied is his fame. 

A Dalmation dog is he. 

Thirty months his age, 
Loves to roam around the town 

And thinks he is a sage. 

A hide of white and spots of black, 

So many spots has he 
That no man e'er could count them all 

Tho tried repeatedly. 

Let another dog come 'round 

And a fight engage, 
He will fight him to the end 

In a most ferocious rage. 

See him fierce the battle wage, 

See him down his foe 
And with paws and open jaws 

Bring his foe to woe. 

*Note: This poem is entirely orignal. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



Formerly was owned by Gene, 

Ex-county treasurer. 
Who, as you know, was beau-brummel 

Of Kenton, yea, 'tis so. 

But Gene was free, no cares had he, 
No children reared or trained. 

And so the dog was left agog 
And never could be tamed. 

But rambled 'round all o'er the town 
And did just as he pleased, 

And spent his youth so long uncouth 
Half hidden by the flees. 

But now since "Bodie" has gone away 

To sojourn in the West, 
His old friend Harry trains the dog 

And values him the best. 

And not content with good results 

He trains him every day. 
To see if he can overcome 

Youth's follies and dismay. 

Yet still old habits will crop out. 

No matter what the test. 
But Harry says, despite ^11 these 

He values him the best. 



TO LOVE. 



To love is but to feel the bliss 
Of that soul immortal kiss, 
Heart to heart and eye on eye. 
Even tho we ne'er may kiss. 



84 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



We can feel our love and yet 
On no one our love bestow, 
We can love and yet we know 
Life can not always be so. 

On the eye our eye may gaze, 
We may feel of love divine, 
Yet to love is but to know 
That to love is to repine. 

Love may come and love may go. 
Yet love will ever think 'tis so 
That joys of heaven we would forego 
But to taste love's joy and woe. 



THE BLISS DIVINE. 



I have felt the bliss divine. 

That compound of endless delight. 
Varied as the flowers of summer. 

Ever new and oft contrite. 

I have tasted of that mixture. 

Most delicious nectarite. 
Whence to sip is but to taste of 

Sweetest pleasure infinite. 

I have tasted of that bliss. 
Sweet to taste as is the kiss 

To the souls that heart to heart 
Kiss each other and can't resist. 

T have felt that bliss divine 

Ever changing to repine. 
Ever blossoming forth again 

.Tust to feel that joy divine. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 85 



Love is love tho incomplete, 
Tho to love it may not fleet, 

Yet love In itself is discreet, 
Worthy and it is so sweet. 



SONNET TO A GRAND RAPIDS GIRL. 

Oh, such a lass I ne'er have seen 

In all my travels 'round, 
And, Oh, my heart's in ecstasy 

As visions 'round me bound. 

Visions of a lass so divinely fair, 

With eyes superbly sweet, 
So exquisitely are they crowned 

V\^ith beauty's dower to greet. 

Such wealth of beauty they possess, 

Those eyes it seems to me 
Would bring the best of earth to thee 

Their pleasant smile to see. 

To bask within their light and love 

If only for awhile, 
Would make me think that Heaven were 
near 

Whene'er on me they'd smile. 

Such lovely eyes, Oh, blissful joy 

To gaze into their light 
And see within their sparkling depths 

The love for which I'd fight. 

I mean not rude to be to you, 

Or that I want a fuss. 
But tben I hope you understand 

I'd fight for you if I must. 



86 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



SONNET, TO A GRAND RAPIDS GIRL. 

A little lassie, Oh, so sweet, 

I've met again tonight, 
She 's such a beauty; Oh, you kid, 

You're simply out of sight. 

I know not why I like you so, 

But verily I do, 
I think you're nice as you can be. 

And, Oh, so pretty, too. 

You're just the girl that I admire. 
With a face so winsome sweet. 

That I would love to be with thee 
Just to hear the moments fleet. 

I want naught else but to be near 

A girl like you, I say; 
With a heart so good and loving kind 

That my heart would for you sway. 

Tf I for you could brighten 

A wee bit of your life, 
I'd count It worth ten thousand joys 

And ne'er regret the strife. 

'Twere not In vain my time were spent 

For but a smile from thee 
Would drive away my fears and doubts 

And my heart be in glee. 



TO A GRAND RAPIDS GIRU 

I met her at the rink one night 

Only a week ago, 
She is so sweet, I can't help think 

I'd like to be her beau. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 87 



She's such a dear sweet lassie. 
With arms so plump and round. 

So sweet and fair and debonair 
My heart seems all spell-bound. 

Oh, great the joy in knowing thee 
As we skated 'round and 'round, 

Such pleasure I have never known 
This whole wide world around. 

I'd skate with you forever, 
Yes. every hour each day, 

If you would only let me 
I'd make your heart so gay. 

What joy were ours, dear lassie, 
This old world could not say, 

And when we kissed each other 
No one could say us nay. 



'TIS A FAIR OCTOBER EVENING. 

'Tis a fair October evening 
And the glowing sun hath set. 

The leaves are nigh all fallen 
And the grass with dew is wet. 

The night is fast advancing 
And the shadows come and go 

As the 'lights that gleam around us 
Flicker often, flicker slow. 

This evening we've assembled 
'Round about the festive board. 

Each with their own desires 
All hearts in sweet accord. 



88 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



We have all partook in measure 
Of the bounties of this feast, 

Both their excellence and savor 
One desire is filled at least. 

We have all partook the bounties 
Of the feast and of the wine, 

Wine of service, wine of gladness 
That bringeth us to no repine. 

For to fill our hearts with gladness 

And to give a cheery smile 
Is to taste of wine delicious 

All our senses to beguile. 

So then we can be so thankful 

For the time we thus shall spend, 

Thankful for a cheery greeting 
Ne'er forgotten to the end. 

The lights still seem to flicker 
And the shadows come and go. 

And the night is fast advancing 
Bringing joy and bringing woe. 

For to some hearts night is darkening. 
Lengthening shadows come and go, 

There can be no retrospection 
Life is sorrow and all woe. 

But the night is not all darkness, 
Gloom alone can not prevail, 

Brightly shine the lights around us 
And no shadows can avail. 

For the stillness of the evening 
And the shadows lengthening long 

Seem to leave with us a message 
For the contrite and the strong 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 89 



Life is not without its shadows 
And no sorrow, howe'er deep 

But will have the after sweetness 
Peace and joy so full, complete. 

For the shadows are but symbols 
Of the joy so full, sublime 

That alone will follow sorrow 
When the heart is mellowed fine. 

When you feel deepest emotions. 
When you feel of joy sublime, 

Just remember others' sorrow. 
Give a cheery smile in time. 



KENTON, MY KENTON. 

Pride of my heart and my own eyes' delight, 
Thou hast a name that in itself is might, 
For it inspires us and its name resounds 
Where'er 'tis heard to glorious renown. 

There is no name that can to thine compare 
Past time or present, none thy fame may 

share. 
For thy fair name is magic unto all, 
Woos all the earth and every heart enthralls. 

Kenton, my Kenton, thou hast a name thy 

own, 
No other name can come within its zone, 
And every heart that enters in thy gates 
Cheered by thy welcome beckons all the 

fates. 



90 MESSENGERS OF LOVE 



Thou, art the greatest town upon this earth, 
No other town is equal to thy worth, 
And none shall ever to thy fame arise 
Wherein all greatness and all goodness lies. 



No other town on earth is quite so dear, 
None can surpass thee none shall be thy 

peer, 
And when the Gods immortal judge thy 

worth 
They will pronounce it glorious, best on 

earth. 



Could any mortal e'er thy worth assay. 
Palaces and gardens would only part convey 
All thy allurements and their attractions 

grand 
Would thru thy worth nobler more still ex- 
pand. 



And in expanding, beauty in all its power 
Would to thy charms give yet another flower. 
Till all the earth and all the worlds that be 
Should sing thy praises to eternity. 



Think ye not, then, that Kenton, noble, fair. 
Has fame enough for all on earth to share. 
And that to live within her portals grand 
Bids all of us to nobly by her stand. 



Then let us welcome all on earth to come. 
Throw ye wide the portals unto every one, 
Let your heart its radiance shed abroad each 

day, 
Doubt and all its kindred dispel with dismay. 



MESSENGERS OF LOVE 91 



Welcome, then, Oh, welcome unto all the 

earth, 
Fear and doubt and trouble dispel ye with 

mirth. 
Oome and let us help you, come and let us 

cheer, 
Welcome, then, Oh, welcome unto Kenton, 

dear. , 

Welcome, welcome, welcome is the song we 

sing, 
Kenton, Kenton, Kenton re-echoes to the 

ring; 
Know ye now the slogan, "strike the Kenton 

trail," 
And when ye have struck it sing it without 

fail. 

And when all things mortal shall have 
passed away. 

Leaving naught of sorrow, nor of man today. 

There shall still re-echo unto heights sub- 
lime 

Thy glorious fame intrinsic in eternity's 
regime. 



L 



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